If you have been diagnosed with salivary gland cancer, knowing a little bit about the salivary glands will help you talk to your doctor about surgery or other aspects of your care. Show The salivary glands make saliva and empty it into your mouth through openings called ducts. Saliva helps with swallowing and chewing. It can also help prevent infections from developing in your mouth or throat. There are two types of salivary glands:
Major Salivary GlandsThe major salivary glands are the largest and most important salivary glands. They produce most of the saliva in your mouth. There are three pairs of major salivary glands: the parotid glands, the submandibular glands, and the sublingual glands. Parotid GlandsThe parotid glands are the largest salivary glands. They are located just in front of the ears. The saliva produced in these glands is secreted into the mouth from a duct near your upper second molar. Each parotid gland has two parts, or lobes: the superficial lobe and the deep lobe. Between the two lobes is the facial nerve. The facial nerve is important because it controls your ability to close your eyes, raise your eyebrows, and smile. Other critical structures near the parotid glands include the external carotid artery, which is a major supplier of blood to the head and neck region, and the retromandibular vein, a branch of the jugular vein. Surgery to treat a parotid gland tumor is called a parotidectomy. It requires great precision because the surgeon has to locate and operate around these important structures. Learn more about parotidectomy. Submandibular GlandsAbout the size of a walnut, the submandibular glands are located below the jaw. The saliva produced in these glands is secreted into the mouth from under the tongue. Like the parotid glands, the submandibular glands have two parts called the superficial lobe and the deep lobe. Nearby structures include:
During treatment, we protect all of these important structures to avoid causing damage. Learn more about submandibular gland cancer surgery. Sublingual GlandsThe sublingual glands are the smallest of the major salivary glands. These almond-shaped structures are located under the floor of the mouth and below either side of the tongue. Tumors starting in these glands are particularly rare. Learn more about surgery for cancers that begin in the sublingual glands. Minor Salivary GlandsThere are hundreds of minor salivary glands throughout the mouth and the aerodigestive tract. Unlike the major salivary glands, these glands are too small to be seen without a microscope. Most are found in the lining of the lips, the tongue, and the roof of the mouth, as well as inside the cheeks, nose, sinuses, and larynx (voice box). Minor salivary gland tumors are extremely rare. However, they are more likely to be cancerous than benign. Cancers of the minor salivary glands most often begin in the roof of the mouth. Author: Alexandra Sieroslawska MD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios MD, PhD The salivary glands are exocrine glands that are positioned in the head, in and around the oral cavity and secrete their salivary contents into the mouth. Their function is to help keep the oral mucosa protected and lubricated. They also help in the initial stages of digestion during mastication of food, so that a food bolus is created and ready to be swallowed for further processing. They contribute to digestion through the enzymes they excrete with saliva, mainly amylase that starts the digestion of carbohydrates. The glands vary widely in their size, but also are classified based on the nature of the saliva they excrete. Key facts
This article will discuss the anatomy and clinical importance of the salivary glands. The salivary glands are divided into the major and minor salivary glands.
Are you an interactive learner? Then this salivary glands quiz is a handy study tool for you. SalivaSaliva is a seromucinous liquid that has several major functions within the oral cavity which include lubrication, digestion, antimicrobial action, buffering, hormone regulation and taste sensation. It contains 99.5% water and the rest is electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes and antibacterial compounds. There are two major types of saliva that are secreted from the salivary glands and they are serous and mucous. The submandibular gland secretes both types in a 3:2 ratio of serous to mucous respectively. The parotid gland is the only gland that secretes purely serous saliva, while the sublingual gland and minor salivary glands secrete mainly mucous saliva. The total daily output of saliva in an adult is between 1-1.5 liters of saliva. Major glandsParotid glandThe parotid gland is the largest of the major salivary glands and it sits bilaterally in between the ramus of the mandible and the sternocleidomastoid muscle. It produces between 25-30% of the total daily salivary output which is released through Stensen’s duct (parotid duct) whose orifice can be seen on the buccal wall at the level of the maxillary second molar. Parotid gland in a cadaver. Notice how the gland is penetrated by the facial nerve (CN VII).Submandibular glandThe submandibular gland is the second largest of the major salivary glands and like all three of them it is a paired gland. It produces by far the largest amount of saliva of all and account for up to 70% of the total daily output. Wharton’s duct (submandibular duct) opens at the sublingual papilla under the tongue. Want to learn more about the submandibular gland? Check out our resources. Sublingual glandLastly, the sublingual gland is the smallest of the major salivary glands and is unique in the fact that it has several ductal openings that run along the sublingual folds. It also secretes the smallest portion of saliva per day out of the major glands at just five percent. Sublingual gland (lateral view)Master the structure and function of the sublingual gland with our study unit: Minor glandsThe minor salivary glands account for approximately 1% or less of the total daily salivary output. They can be found in patches around the oral cavity such as the bucca, the labia, the lingual mucosa, the soft palate, the lateral parts of the hard palate, the floor of the mouth and between the muscle fibers of the tongue. They amount to approximately 800-1000 individual glands in total. Clinical aspectsSalivary gland cysts can develop due to injuries, tumours, infections or salivary stones that can block the flow of saliva. Since it cannot escape into the ducts it remains within the tissues which start to swell as the saliva builds up. This condition is usually painless but can cause problems when eating or speaking. Removal of the underlying cause will correct the problem and recurrence is uncommon. SourcesAll content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines. References:
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